Readigrass

[Polygon]

Hi all

Down in the far South East corner of the country we are suffering from desert-like lack of rain and hence we have no grass at all! I have 2 horses (both in hard work) and am struggling to keep condition on them. Currently they are living out in a paddock (with next to no grass) and have a ring feeder with a large round bale of hay. My problem is that my new horse will not eat the hay (even when I put individual piles of it around the paddock) and is picking sadly at the non-existent grass.

Do you think it would be feasible to buy a bale of readigrass and spread in thinly around the paddock so they can wander about eating it? I can't really feed it in buckets as they share their paddock with a 28 year old pony who bullies them away from any feed buckets etc. They both get a large hard feed twice a day (incl build-up mix, conditioning cubes, high-oil chaff) so I can't really increase that, also I want them to "graze" throughout the day not wolf down huge meals intermittently.

Do you think that could work? As Readigrass is "just" grass could I expect to put 15kg (or however big the bale is) on the ground without problems or should I introduce it gradually?

I would appreciate your thoughts or experiences on this!

Thanks in advance

Jo

 

[Ludi-doodi]

Not sure, but my only thought is that you could only do this on a very still, no wind type of day otherwise you'll probably loose most of it to the wind.

 

[maxapple]

I'm in Kent and have the same problem!

My TB comes in at night, but I've been bringing my pony in and giving him a hay net every day which helps. I think the redi grass would just blow away if you scattered it. You could try dampening it down and putting it in little piles around the field perhaps. If that doesn't work, bring your horses in and give them a bucket full. It takes my TB about 40 mins max to eat a huge bucket!

I'd also introduce slowly - some horses get a bit fizzy on it!

Another thing to try might be horse hage instead of hay?

It is a nightmare at the moment isn't it. I must be the only person I know who actually gets excited about rain at the moment!!

 

[huskimo12]

i cant see why not if they wil eat it off the floor like that maybe try a few patchs first!!

I feed it ina bucket in teh stable as well as hay in witner particularly as graing is sometimes restricted.

You can get some cheaper alternatives as well if you are thinking of using it in that sort of quantities ask your feed merchant i buy very similar stuff for £8 a bag where Readigrass with us is £12 a bag.

 

[Kallibear]

Why not put it inside the ring feeder, in shallow buckets?That'll stop them trampling it into the ground. It should also stop the bullying too, if the feeder's big enough.